Reviews | A Prayer For The Devil

ForeWord Clarion Reviews

"…a fast–paced, brilliant thriller that literally begins with a bang and never lets up…Honoring the intelligence of his audience, the author takes a minimalist approach that sucks readers in, keeps them thinking, and makes all 314 pages fly by with breathtaking speed. The ending packs a real punch to the gut, leaving an impression that lasts far beyond the final page…Allan’s debut novel is as well written, suspenseful, and engaging as one might expect from the likes of Clancy, Grisham, or Le Carré…likely the first of many noteworthy novels by an extraordinary writer."

Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Awarded the Kirkus Star for Books of Exceptional Merit – Selected by Kirkus as one of the Best Books of the year.

"An engaging mystery, and a sizzling debut… Allan’s novel is a blistering tale with all the right ingredients for a mystery…But the author’s multifaceted characters are what give the book distinction… The book’s stellar ending addresses a lingering uncertainty and leaves much for readers to ponder."

Publisher’s Weekly

"Allan’s taut thriller is well plotted, and the explication of the mystery and the many odd characters with whom Father Luke becomes involved will keep readers engaged and turning the pages... fans of the genre will enjoy this highly readable thriller with a final shocking revelation that seems to signal a sequel."

Ed Wilkinson – Editor at The Tablet

"I promise you a compelling read. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. If you’re a James Patterson or David Baldacci fan, you’ll love this author’s style and ability to tell a story and keep your interest, even with several subplots in play…This exciting thriller could easily be made into an action-packed motion picture."

Long Island Business News

"This year’s crop of crime thrillers star everyone from a mild-mannered clock maker to a Ranchero–powered repo man, but Long Island author Dale Allan wins top honors with Luke Miller, a Catholic priest who sets out to find the killers of his politically connected twin brother…A Prayer for the Devil moves at breakneck speed across New England, then on to the Middle East and back, as Luke struggles to uncover whodunit and why, while squirming in the tight spot at which religion crashes headlong into justice. The surprise ending screams sequel."

Norman Goldman – Publisher and Editor of Bookpleasures.com

"Have you ever noticed that there are books where you really have to struggle to get into it while some others you just breeze through it and hope the story will never end? Dale Allan's bold and clever debut novel falls into the latter category…he fully understands the value of careful plot construction as his story unfolds with an intriguing cast of characters. And listening to the exchanges between these characters, we actually feel that we are eavesdropping on real conversations-all of which leads to a splendid novel on all counts."

June Maffin – June Maffin, Author: Soulistry

"Author Dale Allan succeeds where many authors fail in keeping the reader not just interested in the well developed characters, but curious about what the next page will bring through the twists and turns which permeate this book…Allan is a skilled writer…Will there be a "next chapter" a sequel to this book? One can only hope – and encourage the author to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, and imagination into action!"

Bill Donahue – President – Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

"A Prayer for the Devil is a gripping tale of mystery, politics and religion. Fast–paced and entertaining, it is also an important cultural marker. It deserves a wide audience." – Bill Donohue

Allan’s fast-paced political thriller is proving a magnet for best book awards, even winning multiple genres in the same competition.